Dundana School Council Minutes:
Date: January 12, 2012
Call to order: Amy Zuccolo at 6:35 pm
Attendance: Amy Zuccolo, Tannis Hamill, Leah Dix, Karen Kepkiewicz, Kirsten James, Wendy Duque, Jenny
Harper (teacher rep), Nadine Sayliss, Rachael Haalboom, Mary Ferries, Dee Sperry, Stella Heenan, Louise
Adam, Catherine Roberts, Amanda Ljucovic, Tricia deGraaf
Regrets: Kim Moon, Leanne Knox, Amardeep Gupta, Connie Laccheo
Handouts: Umbrella Community Report: Family Literacy Day
Agenda Topic
and Speaker
Discussion
Welcome
and
introductions:
Amy Zuccolo
Review and
approval of Nov.
9, 2011 meeting
minutes:
Amy Zuccolo
Review and
approval of
meeting agenda:
Amy Zuccolo
Amy welcomed all. All briefly introduced themselves.
Chair’s Report:
Amy Zuccolo
a)First Class
update
b)Holiday
Luncheon review
and thanks
Action and
Person
Responsible
Minutes from the last meeting were reviewed. Discussion raised by Amy
regarding spending for the garden. Confirmation received from council
that all expenditures for garden will be repaid.
Motion for approval :Nadine Sayliss Seconded: Kirsten James
Content and timing of the agenda was reviewed to allow earlier
speakers including:
 Louise Adam to share activities on behalf of Canadian Parents
for French (CPF)
 Catherine Roberts to share information from the French
Immersion Advisory Council (FIAC)
 Rachel Haalboom to update about Mabel’s Labels fundraiser
 Dee Sperry to update about clothing sales.
Motion to approve revised agenda: Leah Dix Seconded: Nadine Sayliss
Amy advised council of upcoming activities including:
 HWDSB Martin Luther King Jr. celebration
 January 27 talk at McMaster University: Indigenous Aspects of
Cultural Safety Education
 Initiative to wear yellow January 19 to support active
transportation and smart commutes; Hamilton Horizon Utilities
classroom activities Feb 6 to March 30
 French Immersion Entry Point Consultation survey on the
HWSDB web site; (French Immersion Advisory Committee
(FIAC) activities and minutes of board meetings also are online)
 Parent engagement event February 2 from 6-8 pm at
Westmount High School with Ray Zahab
Amy thanked all of the volunteers and who helped serve the holiday
lunch and thanked Jenny Harper for securing the decorations. It was
noted the event raised approximately $1400 with 10% to be returned to
the school. Tablecloths were purchased for the event. A concern was
raised regarding cheese in the “pasta with butter” due to concern for
dairy allergies. Kristen James will follow up with Lunch Wizard. Rachel
Haalboom confirmed well done and thanked council for the extra food
shared with Adelaide Hoodless school.
January 18, 2012 Dundana School Council Minutes
Kristen James
agreed to follow
up with Susan at
Lunch Wizard.
c)Other School
activities
d)Feedback from
goal setting at
November
meeting
Paper Recycling Program:
Amy, on behalf of Mr. Rutherford, reminded all that the school receives
funding for our paper recycling. Tannis Hall confirmed the school
receives reimbursement based on weight so parents are welcome to
contribute paper recycling.
Fundraisers:
 Pizza is going well.
 Amy indicated QSP informed her Dundana can arrange for a
magazine subscription to be sent to a child in need. Tannis will
make this determination.
Amy summarized the outcome of the brainstorming activity completed
at the November council meeting. Amy explained all calendar activities
were categorized to aid in goal setting and include support for:
 Learning (book fair, teacher wish list to improve book room)
 Community building and communication (garden, improved
email and website, staff appreciation lunch, parent education
evenings, food drive and mitten tree, agendas, relationship with
Umbrella)
 Healthy schools and character initiatives (consultation for 10
nutrition days, clothing drives and February dance-a-thon
planned)
 Enrichment programs/extra-curricular (trips and busing)
 School Spirit/Fun for students (play day, Grade 5 graduation
lunch, jump rope for heart, safety patrol party, apples for Terry
Fox run, pizza and Lunch Wizard sales)
In addition to the activities identified above, council has committed to:
clothing/sprit wear, sales of Mabel Labels, Spring Raffle, and spring
book fair (volunteer is needed for the book fair; Susan Rucchin will train
during the spring fair).
Other ideas identified for further exploration and discussion at
subsequent council meetings include: possible formation of an ad hoc
safety committee (safe crossing of Dundana Ave. discussed), Kids 4
Leadership and DPA assemblies, spirit week, penny sale and utilizing
resources of parents (e.g. programs such as Scientists in the School).
Tannis will post
reminder of the
recycling
programme on
the website.
Amy to add to
the bulletin
board.
Tannis to
determine family
to receive
magazine
subscription
Nadine agreed
to arrange for
freezies for play
day.
Amy shared
Leanne Knox
has agreed to
coordinate the
spring raffle
Dee Sperry has
agreed to lead
the
clothing/spirit
week sale.
Louise Adam noted she and Karen Birthelmer were interested in
helping with the end of the year celebration for grade 5 students. Tannis
acknowledged their interest and will follow up but noted teachers have
typically run that event in the past.
Nadine Sayliss remains interested in arranging for Barbara Burrows to
present at a parent educational evening. Council discussed the need to
have a topic that would interest a variety of families to generate
maximal interest. There was support for concepts such as helping
children to learn strategies to manage stressful situations and anxiety
since all experience high stress situations at times. Tannis asked
Nadine to provide council with a few topics Barbara has presented in
the past and some potential dates she would be available to speak to
the Dundana community.
Amy described the Kids 4 Kids leadership program and questioned if
there was interest in bringing that program to Dundana. Mary Ferries
briefly described the program her daughter participated in at Sir William
January 18, 2012 Dundana School Council Minutes
Nadine Sayliss
to present
potential broad
reaching
speaker topics
and speaker
availability at
Feb 8th council
meeting.
SGF report:
Kirsten James
FIAC update:
Catherine
Roberts and
Louise Adam
Osler school. Information Amy received states the program begins with
a 45 minute motivational school assembly in which children learn
practical strategies to manage bullying. It is recommended schools host
one assembly for primary level and another for older students.
Instructional materials are provided for teachers. Topics available in the
optional paid program to follow the assembly include themes of
leadership, self-esteem, living beyond labels, motivating self, peer
pressure, characters of a leader etc. Cost for the 2 assemblies is $500.
Amy suggested we could pay for the assembly to gauge student
interest. Discussion followed about how and who could best address
these topics with the students and how this fit with existing curricula.
Tannis noted she would want to ensure the program fits with other
efforts already underway to build these types of skills. It was suggested
by Stella Heenan that we research available programs and cost for the
next council meeting.
Kirsten James indicated a meeting of the School Generated Funds
(SGF) is required. It was agreed the next meeting would be January 31
at 6 pm in the library. Amy Zuccolo, Tannis Hamill and Kirsten James
attend. Stella Heenan and Karen Kepkiewicz also expressed interested
in participating. Amy hopes we can establish goals for SGF through
2012 to avoid the inevitable lull at the start of the new school year when
the new parent council forms. The SGF committee will review the
teachers wish list on January 31st. Jenny Harper, teacher rep. stated
teachers are providing additional detail in response to questions asked
at the last council meeting.
Kirsten reiterated there is a need for raffle prizes for the spring raffle.
She will generate donations but would welcome assistance. The raffle
typically generates enough money for purchase of student agendas.
Amy confirmed Leanne Knox will prepare the spring raffle letter for
families. Tannis confirmed the majority of families prefer these
messages to be emailed.
Kirsten noted pizza sales were going well and that there are sufficient
funds for the remainder of the year to support desired activities. She will
update council at the February meeting.
Kirsten expressed concerns there is no bylaw related to who can
authorize minor spending. Kirsten and Amy expressed it would be
helpful to craft a bylaw denoting guidelines for minor expenditures. It
has been common practice from past councils that minor costs less
than $200 did not require full council approval but Kristen indicated it
would be preferable to have firm guidelines to address this and to
determine who is responsible. Amy hasn’t found specific guidelines
addressing this yet. Kristen asked if council would agree to formation of
a bylaw. Council unanimously agreed this was appropriate and
necessary. Kirsten will research suitable language and provide
examples to council at the next meeting on February 8.
Catherine Roberts informed council it was formally announced by
HWDSB that Dundana FI children will attend Sir William Osler School
for grades 6-8. The announcement occurred at a meeting with
Superintendent Laverty at which there was a good turnout of Dundana
parents. It was very clear that the decision is firm and unlikely to be
revisited. Catherine noted that the change in entry point is not yet
confirmed though. HWDSB is considering changing the entry point of FI
to grade 1 for the entire board. Louise Adam noted there is a Canadian
January 18, 2012 Dundana School Council Minutes
Parents are to
research
programs that
address similar
topics and be
prepared to
discuss at Feb 8
council meeting.
SGF to meet
January 31st.
Kirsten to
develop a bylaw
for review at
Feb. 8th council
meeting.
Parents for French (CPF) meeting January 19th for the west cluster at
Ancaster High School at 7 pm to discuss the entry point issue (driven by
the move to all day kindergarten). Concerns noted include families with
children potentially in different schools.
Umbrella
Community
report: Amy
Zuccolo for
Connie Laccheo
Dundana
Clothing sales
“Spirit Wear”:
Dee Sperry
Principal’s report:
Tannis Hamill
Louise noted that St. Eugene’s school will host a “Frenchapalooza
“evening on Feb 29th, 6:30-8:30 that will include book sales. Additional
information will be in the CPF newsletter released the first week of
February. CPF has 78 memberships representing 7 different schools.
Louise reiterated the need for survey input from FI parents for the FI
entry issue and directed parents to the HWDSB website. Louise
circulated copies of the written submission prepared by CPF. Louise
also confirmed the next FIAC meeting is Wed. January 25th at 7pm in
the lower auditorium. Nadine queried if that is the forum for questions
specific to transportation needs for Sir William Osler. Louise indicated
CPF advocated for transportation in the past for George R Allan school.
Those at the meeting confirming children will attend Osler for grades 68 were informed the transportation policy is being revisited though this
was not formally announced.
Amy informed Connie was unable to attend but had provided copies of
the Umbrella Family and Child Centres Literacy activities. Copies were
circulated for all in attendance.
Dee Sperry shared information and a sample order form for sales of
Dundana clothing items with Mason Athletics. Sample clothing was
available during the Christmas concert but few parents and teachers
were able to view the items on display. Suggestions were made to
improve the form (sizing needed, cheque payable to the school). Dee
agreed to make the suggested changes. Rachael Haalboom confirmed
it was not necessary to circulate the form for approval via email. All
agreed.
It was also agreed the sales would coincide with a planned spirit week
since there was insufficient time to order for wearing at the Valentines
Dance. With consultation from Jenny Harper and Tannis Hamill it was
determined spirit week would occur the week before March Break. Spirit
week activities were suggested. Jenny Harper agreed her ¾ FI class
would facilitate planning one of the spirit days.
Tannis Hamill thanked Jenny Harper for her efforts to lead the
December Food Drive. The Salvation Army was extremely thrilled by
the 1400 items of food. Tannis and Jenny agreed to inform the students
of the overwhelming appreciation in response to a suggestion from
Stella Heenan.
Tannis also thanked Jenny for her work leading the EQAO diagnostics
and described this process for council. Tannis noted it is important to
illustrate the collaboration that occurs between teachers. All teachers
are members of varying teams within the school. Teachers work
collaboratively to plan, assess, evaluate and reflect on the teaching
learner critical pathway for each grade and how to achieve success.
Tannis and Jenny used the example of grade 3 math teams to illustrate
how teachers are also members of collaborative working teams outside
of their respective schools.
January 18, 2012 Dundana School Council Minutes
Dee Sperry will
finalize the order
form with Tannis
Hamill.
Spirit Week
confirmed:
Jenny Harper’s
class will
facilitate one
spirit day
activity.
Tannis briefly described a conflict resolution program based on themes
of restorative justice that had been offered to girls in grade 5. Positive
feedback was received from both parents and staff. The group is
planning next steps and if the program would be suitable for other age
groups.
Mabel’s Labels
sales: Rachael
Haalboom
Valentines
Dance: Karen
Kepkiewicz
Teachers’
Report: Jenny
Harper
Tannis noted that JK registration will follow the January 30 meeting to
determine FI entry.
Rachael Haalboom described the Mabel Labels fundraiser. Council
agreed to proceed with sales and will receive 20% commission.
Rachael also took the opportunity to thank the Dundana community for
the December donations to Roxborough Park for hockey equipment.
The learn to skate program will begin the week of January 23.
Mabel’s Labels
information will
be posted online
and will appear
in the March
Newsletter.
Karen Kepkiewicz stated she and Wendie Duque had met to begin
Kirsten James
planning the Valentine’s Day Dance but were concerned the date
will email
coincided with Mad Science. It was agreed the dance could still proceed donation letter
on Valentine’s Day. There will be a dance for the primary level followed to Karen
by the junior level. Tricia deGraaf stated she would confirm her
Kepkiewicz who
husband’s availability to DJ. Donations are needed for spot prizes.
will organize the
Jenny Harper agreed to coordinate song requests from students and
dance with
will share with Karen. Jenny will also arrange for teachers to assist with Wendie Duque
Valentine themed decorations.
and Kim Moon.
Karen will follow
up with Tricia
deGraaf re. DJ.
Jenny Harper described the great December activities that took place
including: sing-along holiday concerts; class parties for non-nutrition
day; 1400 food items donated for the food drive; clothing donations for
William Davy School; the skating trip, trips to Westfield Heritage to
support pioneer curricula. Jenny also shared that practice EQAO testing
is ongoing for grade 3.
Motion to adjourn: Kirsten James; seconded by: Nadine Sayliss
January 18, 2012 Dundana School Council Minutes